WANNEROO DENTAL CENTRE

Treatment

DENTURES

TREATMENT

Dentures

Our teeth have a significant impact on the way we live our life. They influence our quality of life, including our appearance, how we speak and eat, as well as self-esteem and confidence. If missing some, or all our teeth, our oral health-related quality of life can be affected. One alternative to replacing lost or missing teeth is to have dentures manufactured and fitted by one of the dentists at Wanneroo Dental Centre.

Dentures are a cost-effective replacement option for teeth lost due conditions such as tooth decay, gum disease, or trauma. If you have lost some or all your teeth, it is likely that we at Wanneroo Dental Centre may talk to you about dentures to replace these teeth.

Dentures are artificial substitutes for missing natural teeth and adjacent soft tissues. They can be either a temporary or permanent tooth replacement option for people of all ages. They are typically made of acrylic resin (plastic) or a lightweight metal (mainly cobalt chrome) and are designed to look like your natural teeth.

Types of Dentures

Full denture

A full denture is worn by patients who have lost all their teeth in either the upper or lower jaws, or both. The denture will replace missing natural teeth and sit on the gum ridges, providing support to the lips and cheeks as well as maintaining the distance between your nose, mouth and chin. By choosing not to replace the missing teeth, the distance between your nose, mouth and chin can become smaller over time.

Partial denture
A partial denture is used when a person still has one or more natural teeth remaining. The denture will replace the missing teeth and is usually held in place in the mouth by clasps that surround and hold on to the remaining teeth. These dentures may have an acrylic resin (plastic) or metallic cobalt-chrome base. The Dentists at Wanneroo Dental Centre may discuss these material options with you when planning for a denture.
Upper and lower partial cobalt-chrome dentures. Getty Images.
Implant-retained denture
A removable implant-retained denture is an alternative to the standard full dentures. These dentures can be used to replace all missing upper or lower teeth. They are partially supported and held in place by dental implants that are retained within the jawbone and partially supported by the gums. This denture can still be removed from the mouth by the person wearing it.
An example of a lower full denture held in place by two dental implants.
Custom made

Dentures are custom-made to fit your mouth. However, as with a new pair of shoes, even the best made denture/s can still feel a little irritating at first as you adjust to how they fit and feel within your mouth. You may need to return to your dentist or dental prosthetist for minor adjustments to the denture until it can be worn comfortably.

If you are having teeth removed and need a denture, we may suggest waiting a few months after the teeth have been removed so that your gums can heal. By doing this, it can help to minimise the number of adjustments required for the denture.

However, if you need a denture immediately after a tooth is removed, an ‘immediate’ denture may be created and fitted during the same appointment that your tooth is extracted. An ‘immediate’ denture may require more follow-up appointments for it to be adjusted and may need to be replaced sooner.

What are they made of?

Depending on your needs and budget, there are different materials that your denture may be made from. Two of the main materials used are acrylic resin (plastic) and cobalt-chrome (metal). These materials each have their own benefits which we will discuss with you when providing treatment. Dentures may be made from acrylic resin only or a mixture of acrylic resin and cobalt-chrome.